5 youths feared drowned in sea at Chavakkad

Five youths were feared drowned in the sea on the Munakkakaavu beach at Chavakkad on Saturday.

The missing youths have been identified as Karthik (Kannan), 23, Arun Aravindakshan, 23, and Ranjith Rajan, 27, of Kuzhoor; and Vishal Narayanan, 23, and Jesil Rajan, 23, of Kunnamkulam.

Vishal was an engineering student at a college at Valayar. Arun had just completed his mechanical engineering degree course.

The five, along with two more friends Santhosh and Sarath, had set out in a car for a swim in the sea at Munakkakadavu, according to the police.

As the sea was rough, the local people warned the youths against venturing into the sea. Ignoring their warning, the five youths went for a swim, while the two others waited on the beach.

When the local fishermen saw the youths being dragged deeper into the sea, they alerted fellow fishermen and the police. But the efforts of the fishermen, local people and fire and rescue force personnel to rescue the youths proved futile.

As the tragic news spread, relatives of the victims thronged the site of the incident.

After a groyne (pulimuttu) was built near Munakkakadavu, many tourists have been visiting the area, said Guruvayur MLA, K.V. Abul Khader.